Blood found on Chidinma’s dress was that of Usifo Ataga – Forensic expert (Channels)
The trial of an undergraduate student, Chidinma Ojukwu, for the murder of the Chief Executive Officer of Super TV, Usifo Ataga, continued on Tuesday at the Lagos High Court sitting at the Tafawa Balewa Square on Lagos Island with the testimony of a forensic expert, Dr. Richard Somiari.
Dr Somiari who testified as the eleventh prosecution witness, told the court that the DNA blood sample found on Chidinma’s red dress matched that of the victim – Ataga.
Led in evidence by the Lagos State Deputy Director of Public Prosecutions, Mrs Adenike Oluwafemi, Somiari, a director and consultant for the Lagos State DNA and Forensic Centre, told the court that he had practised in the area of forensic for 15 years and had conducted over 500 forensic tests. Read more
Naira abuse: Like Bobrisky, EFCC goes after Cubana chief priest (DailyTrust)
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) will on Wednesday, April 17, 2024, arraign a businessman and socialite, Pascal Okechukwu, popularly known as Cubana Chief Priest, before the Federal High Court in Lagos over allegation of abusing the Naira currency.
This comes less than a week after Idris Okuneye, celebrity crossdresser, was jailed for naira abuse.
After the sentencing of Bobrisky, Nigerian had flooded social media handles of the commission with videos of different celebrities abusing the naira. Read more
Flood: 31 states at high risk, FG raises alarm (Leadership)
The Federal Government, through the Federal Ministry of Water Resources and Sanitation and the Nigeria Hydrological Services Agency (NIHSA), has launched the 2024 Annual Flood Outlook (AFO), alerting that 31 States of the Federation were at high risk of flood this year.
During the unveiling ceremony with the theme, “Promoting the use of Data Analytics and Modeling for Flood Risk Assessments and Food Security” in Abuja, the minister of Water Resources and Sanitation, Engr. Joseph Utsev, said the forecast was to enhance nationwide flood preparedness by providing early warning signs.
He said the highlight is in alignment with President Bola Tinubu administration’s agenda on food security and poverty reduction. Read more
Afriland Properties Grows Revenue by 150% to N4.7b (ThisDay)
Afriland Properties Plc, a leading property management, investment, and development company in Nigeria, has reported a remarkable 150 per cent increase in total revenue hitting N4.72 billion for the year ended December 31, 2023, compared to N1.89 billion in the previous yea.
The company’s profit before tax (PBT) grew by 34 per cent to N2.41 billion, from N1.80 billion in 2022.
Similarly, Afriland Properties Plc saw its total assets grow by an impressive 76 per cent to N34.07 billion compared to N19.38 billion in 2022. Read more
Oko Poly students protest ‘management’s imposition of N5,000 exam fee’ (Tribune)
Students of Federal Polytechnic, Oko, Anambra State, have staged a protest against the incessant imposition of fees by the school management.
The protest was provoked by a recent imposition of a compulsory N5,000 examination fee and the insistence of the school management to deny those who have not paid the alleged fee from writing their exams.
Tribune Online gathered that the students carried different placards with inscriptions such as “reduce the cost of texts books”; “allow us to do our medical and data capture”; “say no to corrupt stakeholders”; “say no to exam fees”; “breakdown our tuition fees” etc. Read more
Man punches relative to death during father’s burial (Punch)
A man named Okekenu Gbadebo allegedly punched a 37-year-old relative, Adebayo Gbenro, to death in the Ijemo-Agbadu area, Abeokuta, Ogun State on Saturday.
PUNCH Online gathered that the incident occurred around 7:30 p.m. when an argument was said to have broken out between the deceased and Gbadebo while making arrangements for their late father’s burial ceremony at their family house in Ìjemò-Agbadu.
A police source who was privy to the matter when it was reported at the Oke-Itoku Divisional Police Headquarters but spoke on the condition of anonymity because he was not authorised to speak on the case, stated that Gbadebo was said to have punched the deceased in the chest following the heated argument. Read more
Bobrisky: Portable seeks EFCC’s forgiveness for spraying money on fans (Nation)
Controversial artiste, Habeeb Okikiola, popularly known as Portable has called on the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) to forgive him for spraying money on his fans.
Portable’s plea is coming after the six-month jail sentence handed down to crossdresser Okuneye Idris, also known as Bobrisky, for Naira Mutilation offence.
Recall that Portable once declared he gave his followers almost N2 million daily in spray paint. Read more
Benue volunteer guards arrest 3 suspects for stealing diesel (Sun)
Operatives of the Benue State Community Volunteer Guards, (BSCVG) have arrested three suspects, including a black marketer, for stealing AGO, popularly knowns as Diesel from TRIACTA construction company, at New GRA Makurdi.
The three suspects were arrested Sunday night at the site where network of road is being constructed near Governor Hyacinth Alia residence.
They were caught after they had siphoned diesels from the heavy duty trucks into Jerry cans and was attempting to transport them into a waiting vehicle. Read more
Hollywood producer Carol Baum slams Sydney Sweeney: She ‘‘isn’t pretty’’ and ‘‘can’t act’’ (PageSix)
Anyone but her.
Top Hollywood producer Carol Baum, who is behind films like Father of the Bride and its sequel, claimed Hollywood “it” girl Sydney Sweeney “isn’t pretty” and “can’t act” during a recent discussion after a screening of her 1988 film Dead Ringers, according to the Daily Mail.
“I don’t get Sydney Sweeney,” Baum, who executive produced her first movie in 1984, reportedly said at the Jacob Burns Center in Pleasantville, N.Y., last week. Read more
Dubai is flooded within a few minutes after incredibly intense storm (Metro)
There has been major disruption in Dubai this afternoon, with planes seen splashing through water at the main airport.
Operations at DXB were suspended for 25 minutes due to the intense storm, with a total of 21 outbound and 24 inbound flights cancelled as well as three flights diverted to other neighboring airports, a spokesperson told Gulf News.
Operations have since restarted, Dubai International Airport added. Read more
Young Sheldon’s cast says filming series finale is ‘bittersweet’ (People)
Young Sheldon is coming to an end after seven seasons, and with shooting on the series finale wrapping up this week, the cast is already feeling nostalgic.
In exclusive interviews with PEOPLE at PaleyFest 2024 on April 14, the cast reflected on the years they spent together filming the beloved CBS comedy.
“It’s been very bittersweet. It’s not an easy thing to know that something that’s been so wonderful for us is coming to an end,” Zoe Perry admitted. “But I think I can speak for everyone that we’re all just really grateful that we’ve gotten to tell this story, tell it for as long as we have, get to experience the audience reactions and how wonderful they’ve been. I think we’re just so appreciative. Truly.” Read more
G. Dep wants Diddy reunion despite sexual assault allegations: ‘I got A lot of songs’ (HipHopDx)
G. Dep, who concluded a decade-plus prison sentence for murder earlier this month, is open to working with former label boss Diddy despite the multiple allegations of sexual abuse and misconduct recently made against him.
On Monday (April 15), the Bad Boy Records alum album joined Fox 5 New York for an interview to discuss his plans now that he is once again a free man. During the chat, he even addressed the mogul’s ongoing troubles with the law while stating that he wants to reunite regardless.
“I’m like, ‘When? When did that happen?’” he said about the antics Diddy has been accused of. “We were in the studio for months on end with each other. So I don’t know where this is coming from. Read more
‘‘This is our Notre-Dame’’: Fire engulfs Copenhagen’s Old Stock Exchange (France24)
A fire ripped through Copenhagen’s Old Stock Exchange, one of the Danish capital’s best-known buildings, on Tuesday, engulfing its spire which collapsed in a scene reminiscent of the 2019 blaze at the Notre-Dame Cathedral in Paris.
The historic building, whose spire was shaped as the tails of four dragons intertwined, had been under renovation and clad in scaffolding when the fire broke out.
Parts of the roof had collapsed and the fire spread to several floors of the building, Copenhagen fire department chief Jakob Vedsted Andersen told reporters. Read more
Ghana still striving to reach debt deal with bondholders (AfricaNews)
Ghana is yet to reach a definitive deal with international bondholders towards the restructuring of about $ 13 billion of its external debt.
The office of the Finance minister reassured Ghanaians Monday (Apr. 15) saying an interim agreement had been reached and that negotiations with bondholders were ongoing.
Reuters reported that Ghana was unable to secure a workable debt deal with two bondholder groups. Read more
Solomon Islands prepares for ‘‘most important election since independence’’ (AlJazeera)
The people of the Solomon Islands are set to vote for their next government on April 17, in an election that could have repercussions for the rest of the Asia Pacific region due to the country’s close relationship with China.
The Pacific state’s 760,000 citizens are spread across its 900 islands and 28,230 square kilometres (10,900 square miles) of territory, making this one of the most logistically challenging elections in the world. It will take several weeks to collect all the ballots and then wait for the country’s 50 MPs to form a government before they choose the next prime minister. Read more
Delaying appointment of Super Eagles coach dangerous — Ekpo (Vanguard)
A former Nigerian international, Friday Ekpo, has advised the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) to be proactive in choosing a coach for the Super Eagles to ensure proper preparations for the 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifiers.
Ekpo gave the advice in an interview with Newsmen on Tuesday in Lagos.
He said that delaying the appointment of the Eagles coach would affect the team’s performance ahead of the world cup qualifiers. Read more
NPFL: Rangers secure top spot with nail-biting Oriental derby victory (Punch)
Nigeria Premier Football League leaders, Enugu Rangers, retained top spot on the log after edging Abia Warriors 3-2 in Tuesday’s match-day 30 Oriental derby at the Nnamdi Azikiwe Stadium, Enugu, Punch Sports Extra reports.
The Flying Antelopes stormed to an early lead through Saviour Isaac, but the visitors responded on the stroke of halftime through Ojonugwa Adejoh.
Kareem Ogunleye and Chiedozie Okorie added two more goals for the Rangers in the second half as they prevented a late surge from the Abia Warriors, who pulled one back in stoppage time through Pascal Nwabueze. Read more
Reactions overwhelm Dele Alli over sexual abuse revelation (Leadership)
Everton star Dele Alli has said that he is “overwhelmed” by the response to an interview where he revealed he was sexually abused as a child.
The 28-year-old said last year that he was abused at the age of six and started selling drugs at the age of eight, leading to mental health issues later in life.
He also said he had battled an addiction to sleeping pills which led to a stay at a rehab clinic. Read more
Skimpy Olympic track uniform from Nike criticised by women athletes (NBC)
Nike unveiled uniforms that U.S. track athletes can don in the Paris Olympics this summer, and one particular female outfit has drawn most of the attention — for apparently being skimpy and revealing.
The leotard, cut particularly high on the hips, is being roundly called out as inappropriate for the world’s most famous sporting event.
Responding to an Instagram post of the leotard from Citius magazine, U.S. long jumper Tara Davis-Woodhall — who finished sixth at the Tokyo games — wrote, “Wait my hoo haa is gonna be out.” Read more
Jude Bellingham: Real Madrid midfielder calls for more to be done to tackle racism (BBC)
Real Madrid and England midfielder Jude Bellingham says football’s authorities “need to do more” to tackle racism but he “doubts it will happen”.
Bellingham’s Real team-mate Vinicius Jr broke down in tears last month when discussing the impact of racist abuse.
In March, Real filed a complaint with the Spanish legal authorities after alleged racist chanting by rival fans. Read more
Clippers’ Kawhi Leonard to get final Team USA spot (ABC)
LA Clippers forward Kawhi Leonard will get the 12th and final roster spot on Team USA for the 2024 Olympics, sources told ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski on Tuesday.
USA Basketball managing director Grant Hill met with most of the 12 invitees on the 2024 Olympic team over the past few days, and it wasn’t until Tuesday that Team USA officials were able to firm up Leonard’s acceptance to join the roster for Paris, sources told ESPN.
The other 11 players on the Team USA roster have yet to be officially announced, but sources told ESPN on Monday that it would be composed of LeBron James ( Lakers), Stephen Curry ( Warriors), Kevin Durant ( Suns), Joel Embiid ( 76ers), Anthony Davis (Lakers), Devin Booker (Suns), Anthony Edwards ( Timberwolves), Jayson Tatum ( Celtics), Jrue Holiday (Celtics), Bam Adebayo ( Heat) and Tyrese Haliburton ( Pacers). Read more